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[YSN Toolbox] PhD and Postdoc life

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[YSN Toolbox] is a series of blogs designed to share, distribute and archive useful information for young and early-career Fluxneters. The resource lists are voluntarily and collectively maintained by FLUXNET YSN members. We would like to keep the lists evolving over time and we welcome you to contribute to the list. 

Life as a PhD student and Postdoc:

  • Cressey, D. (2012). “PhD leaves the ivory tower.” Nature 484: 20.
  • Cyranoski, D., et al. (2011). “Education: the PhD factory.” Nature News 472(7343): 276-279.
  • Editorials (2011). “Fix the PhD.” Nature 472: 259.
  • Editorials (2014). “There is life after academia.” Nature 513: 5.
  • Fiske, P. (2011). “What is a PhD really worth?” Nature 472(7343): 381-381.
  • Fiske, P. (2013). “Ticket to everywhere.” Nature 494(7437): 393-393.
  • Gibney, E. (2014). “How to tame the flood of literature.” Nature 513(7516): 129-130.
  • Giles, J. (2012). “Going paperless: the digital lab.” Nature 481(7382): 430-431.
  • Gordon, W. (2014). “Developing Scientists’“Soft” Skills.” Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union 95(6): 55-55.
  • Judge, S., et al. (2012). “Mentored undergraduate research in the geosciences.” Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union 93(36): 345-346.
  • Kaplan, K. (2012). “Postdoc or not?” Nature 483(7390): 499-500.
  • Kaplan, K. (2012). “Postgraduate options: Academia misses the mark.” Nature 485(7399): 535-536.
  • Kaplan, K. (2013). “Presentations: Pressure to perform.” Nature 494(7437): 391-393.
  • Kaplan, K. (2013). “Professional societies: Come together.” Nature 502(7472): 581-583.
  • Kearns, H. and M. Gardiner (2011). “The care and maintenance of your adviser.” Nature 469(7331): 570-570.
  • Kwok, R. (2013). “Research impact: Altmetrics make their mark.” Nature 500(7463): 491-493.
  • Levine, A. G. (2012) Negotiation strategy and tactics. (external link)
  • Levine, A. G. (2014) 10+ (Surprising!) ways you can use LinkedIn to advance your career and profession. (external link)
  • Lok, C. (2012). “Career development: What’s your type?” Nature 488(7412): 545-547.
  • McCook, A. (2011). “Education: Rethinking PhDs.” Nature News 472(7343): 280-282.
  • McCook, A. (2011). “Education: Rethinking PhDs.” Nature News 472(7343): 280-282.
  • McCook, A. (2011). “Mentoring: On the right path.” Nature 474(7353): 667-669.
  • McGowan, V. and E. Brockfeld (2013). Final year PhD: how to balance your thesis deadline and job search. The Guardian. (external link)
  • Murray, L. (2012). “Friend or foe?” Nature 482(7384): 265-265.
  • Murray, R. (2003). Life beyond the ivory tower. The Guardian. (external link)
  • Nair, C. (2013). “Still a scientist.” Nature 500(7462): 369-369.
  • Reich, E. S. (2013). “The golden club.” Nature 502(7471): 291-293.
  • Rohn, J. (2011). “Give postdocs a career, not empty promises.” Nature News 471(7336): 7-7.
  • Savage, N. (2013). “A sense of community.” Nature 49: 129.
  • Scheffer, M. (2014). “The forgotten half of scientific thinking.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 111(17): 6119-6119.
  • Schiermeier, Q. (2014). “Early-career funding: Big introductions.” Nature 513(7518): 449-451.
  • Schofield, T. M. (2013). “On my way to being a scientist.” Nature 497(7448): 277-278.
  • Schultz, C. (2012). “Navigating graduate school and beyond: A career guide for graduate students and a must read for every advisor.” Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union 93(20): 197-198.
  • Smaglik, P. (2014). “Employment: PhD overdrive.” Nature 511(7508): 255-256.
  • Taylor, M. (2011). “Reform the PhD system or close it down.” Nature News 472(7343): 261-261.
  • Zerubavel, E. (1999). How To Finish Your Dissertation. The Chronicle of Higher Education. (external link)
  • (2010). Doctoral degrees: The disposable academic. The Economist. (external link)

(last update: 1/14/2016)

The resource list has been collected and updated by FLUXNET YSN organizers over years. Courtesy from Sebastian Wolf. Please feel free to contribute via leaving a reply below or email to young-scientist-owner(at)george.lbl.gov. A downloadable version is in preparation.